The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-24
CRUELTY TO THE INSANE.
Patients Brutality Kicked and Clicked
Upon the Slightest Provocation.
Testimony of Citizens of Lebanon in Behalf of
DR.. Observation-Disclosures of Employees
to the Democratic Campaign Fund.

The investigation of the Hospital for the In |
sane by the House committee continued yester- |
day morning, the first witness being Bryce |
Martin, porter and assistant usher of the male
department, Hospital for the Insane, an en-
ploye there for fourteen years. The witnesses |
introduced were subpened for the respondents.
Mr.. Martin testified that he had seen no cruel |
ties practiced by attendants on patients. The
food was good but the butter was sometimes
strong.
Mr. Grifiths-Have you ever contributed anything
for political assessments?
Wltness-i have at times; two or three aoiiats,
probably more.
Questionable you give it to Mr.. HalR
Answer haven't paid any money to Mr. Hall.
Mr.. Nolin-How does the treatment of patients and
the general control of wards compare under the
Fletcher management with the previous manage
Witness-There has been vast improvement
made.
Q;..-,Do you think DR.. Fletcher should have any
A.-Certainly do, and DR.. Thomas, the assistant
superintendent.
j. S. Patterson. clothing supervisor and
clothing clerk male department, employed at
| the hospital nearly nine years, testified that he
| had seen little inhumane treatment of patients.
| Where attendants ill-treated patients they were
| promptly discharged. Michael Stubbleheld and
Charles Henson, two attendants, had patient
down on the floor He didn't see them strike
| him, but thought they were in the act Of whip
| ping him. They we're discharged by Dr.
Thomas, but were given places on the outside,
| and didn't leave the. institution. Henson was
put in as fireman, and Stubblefield employed on
the farm
els there the same kind Of food on your table
that goes to the different wardss
A fNtylI~ - %ha
| that table
Q-Has there been any improvement by the non
Al think when the restraints taken off it
made great difference in patients. They are moro
easily controlled now, and better satisfied.
| tents was stolen!
Al have heard so. I have heard that clothing
has been missed off tho wards. About half dozen
| suits have been missed within the last two years
| They were replaced by DR.. Fletcher.
| Q-Are the attendants who We're on the wards where
the clothing stolen there now!
| Al couldn't say.
Mr. Nolin-Have you ever contributed anything for
Witness-I have given money!; I suppose it was for
political purposes. L gave money one time to Dir.
Mr. GrfithsNWas i one Of his duties as supervisor
/ aEitness--I do not know
| Odd he collect it while on duty9
Q.-Do you belong to Dr. Thonas's club9
Q.-Did you 60 with that club down to shebyvie!
A.-Yes, SIR
Q.-When was thata
A-At the time they had the big barbecue down
there in 1884.
o.-How many attendandants went down there9
A.-Fifty sixty; don't think they were all at
PENDANTS.
Q-Were some of them patients9
O--Could they dispense with fifty or sixty men and
then have enough to attend to the duties on the
: wardsl
A-They were not all attendants. Some were mer
! fss@sh the farm
Q.-Did Dr. Thomas gos
| Axes, sir.
Il Q.-Any other physicians!
Al don't remember We went early in the morn
ing and got back the evening. We gone al
' Q-How often did the club 60 out for campaig,
purposes in 1884!
.A.-Probably FIVE or six times; I do not remember
; Q.-Do you remember of goods being manufacture
;, at the hospital for banners-bunting, etc.l
Al saw some being prepared l couldn't say wh
Q-Were they goods that had been purchased TO
that purpose under for supplies
Q-How many were in that political club9
r A-The Athon Cuba don't remember exactly
= thirty five or forty. probably.
= Odd you feel your position was made more Sc
u cure if you paid the money!
Al felt that if didn't pay the money Nigh
n | possibly lose my place There was nothing compu
aboutit but felt it better to pay something tina
+ not to pay.
Jehu Perkins, of Lebanon. testified as to tn
- G. case and Dr. Harrsons connection wit
4 it. There was nothing new in his testimony
:. which was unimportant
70 William Farley, barber at the Insane Hos
pital for eight years. boards ontside the Hospita
:. He had seen bruises on the faces of patients
y Epeptcs frequently fell and bruised their faces
n Nobody could tell whether a black eye was don
% with a fist or by fall. He had paid An assess
~ nent. but didn't remember how mitch.
A. j. Conway, an attendant, testified that
i'll had paid in money for campaign purposes
ne Forest or Hall. ne couldn't remember which. Il
n belonged to DR.. Thomas's club Hewent to Ma
20 tinsvilie with the club during acampagn and
g the city. He didn't lose pay for the time he wa
S. absent from his uusT,
John Sheridan, steward OF :he dining rooms I
a. the male department. of the hospital, testified ,
s. the general good quality of the food. He ha
Of never seen any cruelty to patients. DR.. Fle.che
r had himself told the witness If any attendar
a. even smoke harshly to patient it was as bad q
3 to strike one, and the attendant would have
n leave. He had seen some strong butter. II
Is had contributed 81 for campaign purposes.
$. Odd you belong to DR.. Thomas's club9
I'D Al don't believe did. went to Martinsville.
S. Q.-Nhat forl
Y A-Th 5., everybody was going for; to see ar
,e were going and went with them.
q. Mr.. Swift introduced contracts as shown
prices paid by tho trustees for butter for the tw
last years the prices ranging from 16 to 28cen
per pound for creamery. The contracts are a
interesting study. Notwithstanding the pris
Go paid and the ''choice creamery" mark most I
=. - tho butter has been of the commonest corne
a. grocery variety. While no incoDsiderabie quar-
tlty would hardly pass muster axle grease.
AT the afternoon session, John n. Navin ir
veterinary surgeon. testified that he had DO
tored one lot of hogs at the Hospital for the Ii
20 sane. Gould not exactly fix the time, an
thought there were about hundred head.
had also doctored cattle ont there for milk feve
~ or the hogs, twenty five or thirty died TIL
" disease was hog cholera. The witness said or
conld find germs of disease in hogs apparent
just getting sick.
Have Ipo 10 AZ.
days and then become sck2
A-Yes, sir. Some got sick earlier and some fu1
ther on Some went six, or eight ten days befor
10 they taken sick.
Genrga T. Marstellar Of I.afaratta a fa.xaa